Japanese (JAPN)

JAPN103 Elementary Japanese I

This course is designed for those who have no previous experience studying Japanese. The objective of this course is for students to acquire communicative and functional skills in Japanese. You will learn the basics of speaking, listening, reading, writing, orthography, and sociolinguistics (when to say what and why) of modern Japanese. Textbook Genki Lesson 1 - Lesson 8 will be covered. Each of the 8 lessons covered in this course includes new vocabulary items and expression patterns related to topics such as time, shopping, daily activities, travel, family, and expressing opinion. In addition, students will learn to read and write 46 basic hiragana and katakana syllables and approximately 86 Kanji (Chinese characters). Class meets daily, five hours per week, and includes weekly TA sessions.
Offering: Host
Grading: A-F
Credits: 1.50
Gen Ed Area: HA-CEAS
Prereq: None

JAPN104 Elementary Japanese II

This course is a continuation of JAPN103, and will approach elementary-level Japanese from two angles: form (grammar) and context (social usage). Students will continue to enhance their fundamental skills in Japanese, with a focus on describing thought and action, expressing intent, and developing intercultural and interpersonal communicative abilities (apologizing, giving/receiving advice, making requests, etc.). The course will continue to emphasize reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, and will familiarize students with various aspects of Japanese culture through the textbook and other media and study materials. Textbook Genki Lesson 9 - Lesson 16 will be covered and 123 additional kanji will be introduced.
Offering: Host
Grading: A-F
Credits: 1.50
Gen Ed Area: HA-CEAS
Prereq: JAPN103

JAPN205 Intermediate Japanese I

This course will approach intermediate-level Japanese from two angles: form (grammar) and context (social usage). Students will learn complex expressions, such as communicating regret, respect (honorifics/humbling), passive experiences, and causative forms. The course will emphasize reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, and will familiarize students with various aspects of Japanese culture through the textbook and other media and study materials. Textbook Genki Lesson 17 - Lesson 23 will be covered and 107 additional kanji will be introduced.
Offering: Host
Grading: A-F
Credits: 1.00
Gen Ed Area: HA-CEAS
Prereq: JAPN104

JAPN206 Intermediate Japanese II

This course aims to develop the four language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) by addressing a variety of topics, including the geography, speech styles, technology, sports, and food of Japan. Students will also learn various strategies in conversation: asking questions, apologizing, asking for favors and expressing gratitude, asking for advice and getting information, and expressing one's thoughts. Lesson 1- Lesson 5 from the textbook Tobira will be covered and 176 additional kanji will be introduced.
Offering: Host
Grading: A-F
Credits: 1.00
Gen Ed Area: HA-CEAS
Prereq: JAPN205

JAPN217 Third-Year Japanese I

The primary goal of this course is to enable students to acquire Japanese language proficiency through integrating four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Lesson 6 - Lesson 9 from the textbook Tobira cover different topics, including religion, pop culture, traditional performing arts, and education in Japan. The class meets three hours per week.
Offering: Host
Grading: A-F
Credits: 1.00
Gen Ed Area: HA-CEAS
Prereq: JAPN206

JAPN218 Third-Year Japanese II

This course aims to develop the four language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) by addressing a variety of topics, including convenient things, history, traditional crafts, and nature of Japan. Students will also learn various strategies in conversation: conveying information, talking about past events, explaining how things are made, and extending one's dialogue. Lesson 10-Lesson 13 from the textbook "Tobira" will be covered and 141 additional kanji will be introduced.
Offering: Host
Grading: A-F
Credits: 1.00
Gen Ed Area: HA-CEAS
Prereq: JAPN217

JAPN219 Fourth-Year Japanese: Conceptualizations of Identity in Contemporary Japan

Enrolled students and faculty will determine the twice-weekly, 80-minute class meeting times together.

This course involves close readings of modern literary texts, attention to current events reported in the media, and examinations of visual materials and critical discussions in Japanese. Placing Japan in a global perspective, the course addresses the following three main themes surrounding Japan in comparison to the world.

(1) Issues pertaining to the modern Japanese family (declining birthrate, aging society, women's social advancement)

(2) Bioethics (regenerative medicine, cloning, reproductive choices, life-extending and end-of-life care)

(3) Identity (questions of "Japanese-ness," as well as issues faced by so-called "gaijin," immigrants, refugees, biracial/bicultural individuals, and resident Koreans or "zainichi")

*These themes are subject to change.
Offering: Host
Grading: OPT
Credits: 1.00
Gen Ed Area: HA-CEAS
Prereq: JAPN218

JAPN220 Fourth-Year Japanese: Advanced Japanese through Contemporary Fiction, Essays, and News Reports

In this course, taught completely in Japanese, students will read original works of short fiction, essays in Japanese by well-known contemporary authors, and newspaper and magazine pieces. We will also include several movies and/or television dramas. We will explore various genres and popular themes in Japanese literature and consider style and voice. Through the works we look at, students will also be introduced to advanced Japanese grammar, expressions, patterns, kanji, and vocabulary.
Offering: Host
Grading: OPT
Credits: 1.00
Gen Ed Area: HA-CEAS
Prereq: JAPN219

JAPN229 Debating Japan and the World in Japanese

Tied to courses being offered in the CEAS, students in this course read related literature, scholarly articles and blogs, watch videos and films, and debate in Japanese about current events and issues surrounding Japan, Asia, and the world. Guest Japanese speakers may visit the class. Some possible themes are foodways, educational systems, Japanese relations with other Asian countries, identity and stereotypes, and cultural appropriation. However, an overarching focus will be on the history and current dynamics of Japanese-American relations. All materials, reading and writing assignments, and discussion will be in Japanese, with some comparative materials in English, and some translation by students into English. Native speakers of Japanese are strongly encouraged to participate.
Offering: Host
Grading: OPT
Credits: 1.00
Gen Ed Area: HA-CEAS
Prereq: None

JAPN230 Contemporary Japanese Politics in Japanese

This seminar is a discussion-based class designed for advanced language learners and native speakers of Japanese. We will discuss a wide range of contemporary topics in Japanese society and politics. All texts, discussions, and assignments will be in Japanese. Diverse texts will be used--for example, newspaper, magazine, and academic journal articles as well as video broadcasts and web resources.
Offering: Host
Grading: OPT
Credits: 1.00
Gen Ed Area: HA-CEAS
Prereq: None

JAPN285 Translating Modern Japanese Song Lyrics (CLAC.50)

This course offers students the opportunity to build skills and experience as translators of cultural texts by producing Japanese-to-English translations of the lyrics to select modern Japanese popular songs. Students will formulate their own individual translations of the assigned song each week, and then work together in class sessions to amend and further develop those translations, learning from each other's choices and strategies in order to arrive at the most effective rendering possible. Successful completion of JAPN 218 required; heritage learners, native speakers of Japanese, and others with advanced Japanese language skills (both spoken and written) are welcome in the course, with advance permission from the instructor.
Offering: Host
Grading: Cr/U
Credits: 0.50
Gen Ed Area: HA-CEAS
Identical With: CGST222
Prereq: JAPN218

JAPN401 Individual Tutorial, Undergraduate